Time to share

So many, in Bohol and in Cebu, are needing immediate help now. Please do your share where you are, however you can.

What and how can you share?

We mentioned prayers. Please, please do continue to pray for all, especially the needy, that help will get to them soonest. Most especially for those who have remained incommunicado since the earthquake struck. The longer help does not reach them, the greater the possibility of more deaths, more serious injuries, and other damages. Let us then all do our share now, whatever we can do and share, however we can do and share.

With prayers, information is also badly needed. You can share your time helping get information about the needy and the affected areas. Please contact those in affected areas and ask them to post pictures in cellphones or social media, if possible. Ask them to contact others to do the same, ask them too for the contact details of their barangay and other local officials. Then relay these very important visuals, contact details and other information to local radio stations or DSWD or other organizations and government agencies/offices assisting those affected by this latest killer earthquake.

Documentation of injured, dead and other damages is also needed per affected area. Please share your time again to contact and request two or more in the affected areas to share their time to go around their community to list down who and how many have been seriously affected and how by the quake.

If you are able to successfully contact anyone in the affected area, remind them to organize themselves to form groups that will respond to the various needs in their area.

INFORMATION, ORGANIZATION, COMMUNICATION and COORDINATION are basic necessities during disasters. Please do your share to help get information, help organize groups that can assist in responding to various needs where you are and that can reach out to the victims immediately, and do your share please in coordinating and communicating vital information to proper authorities so that urgent help and assistance can reach the most needy soonest.

Beyond prayers, time, information, organization, coordination, and communication, for sure, you can share whatever else you can where you are, however you can.

You can also please encourage watch groups in affected areas to guard against looters, especially of private items and church treasures and antiques. So many precious churches and heritage have been lost to the quake. We must not allow any more of our cultural items to be lost to the greedy and abusive.

Those who have resources to share, please monitor where you can bring and share your resources where you are. Offices, schools, and organizations can collect donations within their own areas and in an organized fashion, coordinate and bring their donations to media networks or other recognized organizations that are effectively and systematically coordinating and collaborating with agencies and governments in the affected areas.

To those who have expertise to share, medical, academic, disaster-related and so on, do please share your expertise how you can for the affected people and communities.

To all overseas Filipinos, we know you will share what you can to help our needy brothers and sisters in Cebu and in Bohol. You can channel your cash donations through media or other networks - check their websites for information about how to get your cash to the affected families. Do please organize support networks where you are abroad and please, please send your share to the needy in Bohol especially.

Please, please do what you can do, wherever you are and please, please share your prayers, your time, your presence, your resources, whatever you can tap for our affected families and communities in Bohol and Cebu.

And may God repay you for sharing and for reaching out to those who are urgently needing your help and support in our country.

To all those who have shared and continue to share their gifts, talents, and resources, prayers and time with those affected by this killer quake, thank you sincerely and padayon ta!

We shall overcome this latest challenge as a united people. Bangon Bohol, Bangon Cebu, Bangon Philippines, Bangon Filipinos!

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